The Kalanguya Tribe
Where in the world did the Kalanguya tribe originate? “ From Adam and Eve” is the usual immediate answer. But is it correct? Indeed it’s correct! How many generations past? Who knows the Englishman could be its 138th cousin. Just to let you know that Kalanguya people have great sense of humor.
From the mountainous areas of Ifugao province in northern Luzon particularly in the municipality of Hungduan arose twin tribes known as i-Ahin (from Ahin) also known as i-Haggud (from Haggud) and i-Tukukan (from Tukukan).
Apparently there are a few Kalanguya communities in the province of Pangasinan probably in the communities adjacent to the municipality of Itogon in Benguet. However, to date(January 13, 2014), this has yet to be verified. (With this regard, the writer is open for any input especially as to which version of Kalanguya they speak and as to what particular town of Pangasinan they live in. Inputs shall be highly appreciated.)
From the mountainous areas of Ifugao province in northern Luzon particularly in the municipality of Hungduan arose twin tribes known as i-Ahin (from Ahin) also known as i-Haggud (from Haggud) and i-Tukukan (from Tukukan).
- The Ahin tribe speaks the variety of the Kalanguya dialect called Ni-ni. From this tribe came forth the Keley-e Kalanguya spoken in Ayangan, Asipolo, Amduntog, Camandag, Hulungan and Natkak. The Ni-ni is retained in Ahin, Binablayan, Cocoy, Danggo, Eheb, Gumhang, Impugong, Luhong, Poblacion Tinoc, Tulludan and Wangwang.
- The Tukukan tribe speaks the Kib-al variety of the Kalanguya dialect. From this Kib-al version came forth the Mangalaykay and the Dak-ey sub-varieties. The main Kib-al is retained in Lusod, Tawangan, Nabukot and Upper Ballay in Kabayan municipality; and, in Camp 3, Ligay and Twin Peaks in Tuba municipality. The Mangalaykay sub-variety is used in Palanza, Pito and Mangagao in the municipality of Bokod; the municipality of Kayapa; and also used by some immigrants in Belance and adjacent municipalities in Nueva Vizcaya Province and in Kadangla-an (Karanglan), Nueva Ecija Province. The Dak-ey sub-variety is spoken in Lower Ballay in Kabayan; Amlimay, Guiweng, Buguias Central and Bot-o-an in Buguias; and, Beckel, La Trinidad; and Mines View, Pacdal and Lucnab in Baguio city.
- Not to forget there is a Kalanguya community in Santo Tomas, Baguio City that comes from both Kaman Ni-ni (speaks Ni-ni) and Kaman Kib-al (speaks Kib-al).
Apparently there are a few Kalanguya communities in the province of Pangasinan probably in the communities adjacent to the municipality of Itogon in Benguet. However, to date(January 13, 2014), this has yet to be verified. (With this regard, the writer is open for any input especially as to which version of Kalanguya they speak and as to what particular town of Pangasinan they live in. Inputs shall be highly appreciated.)
Cultural Practices of the Kalanguya People
The Kalanguya people generally share the same cultural practices, with minimal diversification depending on the geographical location of each group.
The Kalanguya people generally share the same cultural practices, with minimal diversification depending on the geographical location of each group.
A. Community Labor Sharing
Da-ngah: This labor sharing is usually done when building a house. A family prepares the building materials like wood and pal-ot and sets a date to put up the structure then announces it to the neighborhood. The community comes to help build the hut free of charge. Free lunch is served. Ubbo: This form of exchange of labor is intended to accomplish one's task on hand easily and speedily. This usually happens during the planting and harvest seasons where one family/household schedules and announces the job e.g. ani (harvesting rice), then neighbors or other villagers who are expecting to do similar tasks come to help. A member of the household then returns the favor to each of the laborers who came to help. This exchange of labor goes on until everybody had their turn. Gammal: One plans a project and prepares an animal, usually an ut-utik (young pig), to be butchered and divided equally as wage for the men volunteers to work on the project. B. Division of Work in the Family Normally, men do the preparation of a kaingin while women do the planting. A typical kaingin or inum-an (swidden farm) is planted mainly with sweet potato cuttings and varieties of legumes like pigeon pea (kaldih), cow pea (agayyap), hyacinth beans (atab) and broad beans (aknaban). Maize and vegetables may also be planted. Women are also responsible in harvesting. This goes the same with rice paddies wherein men do the plowing until ready to be planted then women follow with the rice seedlings. Harvesting is mostly done by women but men also help carry the harvest to granaries or to homes. C. Traditional Judicial System The early generations of the Kalanguya people believed in the watch of the Aggaw (Sun) and the Kaappoan (ancestors) thus making them refrain from doing evil against their neighbor and fellowmen. The Kalanguya people are peace-loving and maybe considered pacifists since they settle conflicts amicably (tongtong) among themselves with the ruling of elders. When somebody commits a crime, it is dealt with accordingly as soon as possible. Normally, rulings were based on previous settlements. In the case of a deliberate murder there is a special ruling on this called ta-pil, a death penalty for the murderer. The elders shall inquire of the bereaved family what they desire to be done with the accused and if they desire that he should die then one from the bereaved family shall strike the murderer on the head till he dies and be buried with the one he murdered. But if not then the accused shall be required to pay a sum of money, real property or cattle or all. D. Marriage and Wedding Rites Kalon: When a man desires to propose to a lady for marriage, he calls for a friend or elders to go to the woman to propose for him. The man may or may not go with proposing party. They normally bring a bottle of rice wine or gin which will be opened and shared to act as a seal when they think that the woman has agreed and accepted the man. Most of the time, the woman do not literally say yes but her actions and gestures like crying or keeping quiet will be interpreted as saying yes. If the woman says "yes" then arrangements for the wedding (timbal) start right away. Timbal: Normally, a minimum of three fully-grown pigs are butchered on the Wedding Day. On the eve of the wedding the bride and groom must observe the ngilin rite where they are sanctified for each other by a local priest (Mabaki). Wedding rites were usually done at the bride’s residence. Kaihing: This is an early negotiation between two families for the marriage of their children. Sometimes it is also intended to settle family disputes where the offender and the offended family are required by the nangkaama (elders) to settle their feud through kaihing requiring the offender to betroth his son to the daughter of the offended. Secondly, "kaihing" is also a voluntary act between two families to strengthen their existing good relationship. In kaihing no minimum age is required. It is even possible to engage a yet to be born child. (http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?igm=4&i=227) |
E. Interment of the Dead
Traditional Practice: The funeral rites vary depending on the socio-economic status of the dead. The rich are buried after several days, even weeks of funeral rituals (adamag). The rich dead is seated and tied to a chair (hangdil) and is usually placed near the door of his house or in a location where it can be viewed or seen conveniently by the mourners. An old jar is placed under the corpse where blood and body fluids could drip. During the burial (punpun), a lot of animals such as carabaos (buffalo), cows and pigs are butchered. By the end of the burial day, equal volume of meat is sent to each household in the village and also to other relatives who live in other villages or places. This is called in-abbong. If the dead is poor and has no high standing in the community, it only takes 3 days before burial. If the dead is a child it could be buried within 24 hours or the most 3 days. If the death is due to accident, suicide or murder, the dead is usually buried as quick as possible. F. Traditional Feasts Below are the most common feasts determined (katum) by the mabaki (priests): Padit: An eight-day feast. On the eve of the first day is the arrival of binaykat (guests from distant villages); a pig is butchered for their dinner. On the first day, a number of pigs are released to an enclosed front yard (luhod) then wrestled by a representative of each binaykat . These pigs are then butchered using a traditional process called uwik wherein a wooden spear-like stick or branch is thrust into a pig's side straight to its heart. Gongs are played and the host starts the first tayaw (dance) for the occasion. Then baki (prayers) are offered by the mabaki followed by lunch time then more dancing. Second day- no butchering, only pig heads are cooked in the morning. On the third day a minimum of three pigs are butchered. The fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh day are rest days and on the eighth and last days of the padit, only one medium-sized pig is butchered and served as a departure meal. Gongs are played and this is when they observe the so-called hinagawhaw. It is kind of a victory dance where an imaginary human head made of fern tree top is put up on a pole and placed in the middle of the front yard with a big jar of rice wine where folks dance around. Padit has a gradual ascent; first is called manattallo (start with 3 pigs) then when the man progressed he will do tukmang ni tallo (pair of the 3); after more progress he shall manlimma (5 pigs) after more progress tukmang ni lima (pair of the 5) and then (8 pigs) then tukmang ni walo (pair of the 8) then finally if he keeps progressing he shall go manambakid (the 10) which makes the man a titled rich man or Kadangyan. He will have very high status among the people as far as he may be known. The intervals of each padit may take years depending on how the host makes progress in his animal raising. Kiyad: This is a one-day big feast. On the eve of the feast, a pig is butchered for the evening meal to welcome arriving guests. Then on the morrow, The Day, the animal to be butchered has to be a carabao (water buffalo). No gongs are played during this feast but prayers (baki) are offered by the Mabaki in behalf of the host as in the other feasts. The following morning a medium-sized pig is butchered as Atangway (to balance the day) to serve as a departure meal. Kalang: This feast is much smaller compared to the two above. To butcher any animal on the eve or arrival is not compulsory because this feast is limited to the community where the host family lives. Gongs are played throughout the day and as usual the host family starts the dancing. Then The Day has to be balanced by butchering a regular-sized pig the following morning. This is called Atangway and as in Kiyad serves as departure meal. There are minor celebrations like Diloh, family celebration of child birth and is once in a lifetime for each child. |
At the best of Bilso Bumakah Gayudan’s knowledge. This write-up is open for correction as it was only based on limited information. For corrections, additions and comments, please contact Bilso Gayudan through the contact page.
More about the Kalanguya Tribe:
Manuscript on Kalanguya Cultural Communities by Gaspar Cayat
A website about Kalanguya administered and maintained by local missionaries in Nueva Viscaya
An article about the Kalanguya indigenous people
Preserving Living Traditions in Live Performances by Arsenio and Stallsmith
Manuscript on Kalanguya Cultural Communities by Gaspar Cayat
A website about Kalanguya administered and maintained by local missionaries in Nueva Viscaya
An article about the Kalanguya indigenous people
Preserving Living Traditions in Live Performances by Arsenio and Stallsmith